An Off-Limits Merger by Naima Simone

Author:Naima Simone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-08-17T20:07:03+00:00

Nine

Tatum stared at the contents of her walk-in closet as if the array of dresses, pants and blouses were the Riemann hypothesis instead of her options for Sunday brunch at her parents’ place. Honestly, she’d rather sit down and attempt to solve the Millennium Prize Problem than attend the weekly meal with her family.

She winced.

Guilt crept through her, but she couldn’t deny the truth. Ever since she’d disappeared from the dinner party on Friday night, her mother had been blowing up her phone, vacillating between passive-aggressive comments about ungrateful children to outraged criticism for embarrassing her—and leaving her dinner party unbalanced. Her father hadn’t called at all, which portended a more ominous conversation.

Oh yes, she couldn’t wait for brunch.

Sighing, she grabbed a pair of eggplant-colored high-waisted pants and a lavender lace shirt before she could change her mind. About the outfit and brunch. While her parents’ chef would be serving roast beef as the entrée, Tatum knew she would be the main course.

Because the people who should’ve noticed you were hurting didn’t. So I did what they couldn’t or refused to do.

Bran’s words from Friday night haunted her, and as she closed her eyes, his voice gained volume and speed in her head. Part of her wanted to dig that...that indictment out of her brain. To erase it as if it never existed. Because it charged her parents, Mia, the Walkers with not just leaving her out there exposed and unprotected, but maybe with being complicit in inflicting the hurt.

Then there was the other side of her that embraced it. Inside—so deep inside—something unfurled, reaching for those words, for him. Because he’d seen. He’d called a thing a thing even when she’d been afraid to say it. Felt guilty for thinking it.

But his bald, frank manner hit her as both intimidating and liberating.

And wholly addictive.

Like the man.

Exhaling a breath, she slid a hand over the back of her neck, recreating his hold on her, attempting to recapture the hot brand of it against her skin. Molten heat flowed through her at the memory. Now, like then, her breasts swelled, nipples tightening. She lowered a hand to her belly, pressing against the ache there, the same ache that had been there Friday night. Her thighs tightened against the heavy beat of arousal between her legs...assuaging it, stirring it? She curled her fingers, refusing to alleviate that needy pain.

Because stroking herself, making herself come to the memory of her client remained a step she wasn’t willing to take.

Or was afraid to take.

Maybe. Because every encounter, every minute with him seemed to weaken her resolve.

Dropping her arm, lest she surrender to temptation, she exited her closet and tossed her clothes on her bed.

As she shrugged out of her robe, her cell phone rang on her bedside table. She side-eyed it for a moment. Had to be her mother ensuring she didn’t plan on skipping brunch. Resentment flared in her chest but instead of smothering it like she usually did, she allowed it to kindle, her hurt blowing air on it.

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